Last night I was casually scrolling through tweetdeck on my husband’s iPhone. I saw a tweet by Ali Sweeny (from Biggest Loser) that said she was excited to watch Jeff Probst on Survivor tonight. HUH? SURVIOVR? TONIGHT?! Holy Toledo. I totally forgot!
It was about 7:20, so we raced home, threw the kids in the bed and then revved up the Tivo. I love every second of Survivor. I love how Jeff says the same thing every single episode, “20 People. 39 Days. ONE SURVIVOR.” and my favorite Probst line? “Come on in guys!”
<<SPOILERS BEGIN HERE>>
Anyway, that’s not the point of this post. This post is about Wendy Jo and her husband. Wendy Jo is a goat farmer. She’s got an accent, a funny coat and wears a white cowboy hat. In one of Wendy Jo’s first interview she said, “My husband said I’m going to be the first one voted off.”
WHAAT?
I turned to Les and said, “Seriously? What a jerk. Imagine getting on SURVIVOR and having your husband say you’ll get kicked off first.” To make matters worse, Wendy Jo says the reason her husband thinks she’ll get kicked off is becasue she talks too much.
REALLY?
So, what does Wendy Jo do? Does she shrug off her jerk of a husband and trust her instincts? Does she laugh at her imbecile husband and do what she wants? Nope. She says, “So, I’m going to hide my true self and not talk so much. I don’t want to annoy anyone.” (<—my paraphrase)
I LITERALLY FEEL SICK RIGHT NOW.
The show goes on and Wendy Jo is neither a strong player, a weak player, an annoying player or a great player. She’s just there. It’s the first week. I mean, who knows what anyone is like, right?
Well, we get to tribal council and what do you know, Wendy Jo is voted off. She gives a crazy speech beforehand about how she’s really funny and talkative and trusthworthy. But you know what? Too little, too late. She sealed her fate and went home first…
JUST LIKE HER HUSBAND SAID.
I was so mad when the episode was over. How dare her husband ridicule her? How dare her husband belittle her? How dare he have so much control over her that she would hide her real self?
Not only did her husband lose a million dollars, he also damaged her spirit.
I know I don’t know this man and his wife. She may be just a complete weirdo and that’s why she got kicked off. But I was so shocked and saddened by the idea that a man would not think his wife worthy. God has clear instructions for husbands to love their wives fiercely. (See Ephesians 5:25-28)
But there are even more words about the power of our words and how we need to use our words to build others up and encourage them:
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)
or I like the way the Message paraphrase puts it:
Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
Each word a gift. I want to speak words to my children and my husband that are equivalent to gifts. If my husband wants to go out for Survivor, a rodeo, political office or the roller derby, I want to support him with my actions and my words!
(Well, maybe not for the roller derby…)
You are always so insightful, and I will definitely take these thoughts to heart. Great post!
Well put, friend.
I really liked your post. I would love to know how you think the JimmyJohnson situation will play out. I love him on the show (he reminds me of my dad) and I hope they don’t vote him off soon!
oh, that makes me sad, too. Not having the support and… what I think is basically love… from one’s own spouse…. I hope that when I do get the nerve to try the roller derby, Josh will support me. And I’m half serious about that, too. 😉
Wendy did seem weird – not sure if it was her “hiding” herself or not, but how sad that her husband isn’t supportive. She should have gone out there & done her thing – just to show him – unless he has totally stolen her self-esteem. What a good reminder to choose your (our) words carefully.
I’m curious too to see how the Jimmy Johnson thing plays out. A jury may or may not give him the million, but he’s got great leadership skills. And he didn’t seem too overbearing – last night at least. I think with his skills, they could dominate the game & watch the young ones pick each other off one by one. Hopefully he’s around for a while. It will be interesting to watch…
Agreed, D wants to try out for SWAT, and it scares me, but I support it!
That is so sad! My husband teases me, but I know its all in fun, and he is a wonderfully supportive man when it matters. I guess I should remember to be more grateful for that since there are so many men out there who don’t know how to be a good husband, or really just a ‘husband’ at all!
I can’t believe you managed to take an episode of Survivor and turn it into a Bible lesson. LOL! You go girl!
I, also, thought it was so sad when she said that about her husband. I immediately thought, “She won’t make it if she doesn’t have his support.” But still, I’ve never seen anyone do themselves in as quickly and deadly as she did. I mean, stop talking woman! Lisa~
Ok, I totally agree with this post. I am my hubby’s biggest cheerleader and he, mine. That being said, she was kind of crazy. I have a feeling she didn’t hide her crazy as well as she thought she did. I mean that speech at the end was nutso. But in the context of marriage, you are so right. And I love that you love Survivor and wrote a marriage post about it. You are awesome.
Spot on.
Even with all the editing, you can sense Wendy Jo’s uncertainty- probably borne from what’s been spoken over her. Probably from even before her husband. And because her husband spoke negative words over her which she believed and embraced- you knew the handwriting was already on the wall- that she would be going first. Too bad.
You’re a wise, insightful one, Amanda!!
**Loved her name**
I think Roller Derby would be great for your hubby. Don’t mess with Les!
Come on, she was a chatterbox and annoying as hell. I am sure that she took it out of context or the entire conversation with him was edited out by producers. It’s kind of interesting that when I heard her say that I just assumed that he said it in a loving, teasing way – at least until I heard your interpretation.
But, you did turn it into an interesting blog post.
Amen
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